Baku: The housing crisis has emerged as a major challenge on the development and democracy agenda, according to Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Emilia Saiz. She addressed this issue during a high-level dialogue titled 'The Global Housing Crisis - What's the Plan?' held within the framework of WUF13.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Emilia Saiz emphasized that the housing crisis is no longer confined to urbanization or informal settlements but has become a significant challenge to both development and democracy. She pointed out that even individuals with stable employment are increasingly struggling to find affordable housing, indicating the expanding scale of the problem.

Saiz highlighted the necessity of addressing housing issues from the perspective of human rights, social justice, and dignity. She criticized the tendency to build social housing in unsuitable areas and the displacement of individuals who construct their own homes in informal settlements as land values rise.

The Secretary General also noted that in many countries, land and housing are treated as commercial assets rather than social rights, exacerbating the issue of affordable housing. She advocated for enhancing the role of local and regional authorities in the decision-making process to effectively tackle the global housing crisis.